This morning I’ll be at The Charmed Connection’s St. Patrick’s Day Facebook Party at 10AM PDT (1PM EDT). Join me for a discussion of all things Irish as well as several of my books. The party starts at 8AM EDT/5AM PDT. For the occasion, my western romance, Lily and the Gambler, is priced at only 99 cents at Amazon.com!

Save the date white block calendar for St Patrick’s Day, March 17, with Leprechaun hat, pot of gold, and rainbow, on green background.

I’m part Irish by heritage, but of the Northern, Protestant, “Orange”, variety. When I was growing up in Pittsburgh, my mother and grandmother always insisted we should wear orange on St. Patrick’s Day. Then we moved to Southern California and I quickly discovered that not wearing green on March 17th meant complete strangers would pinch you. I rarely made that mistake again. Besides, I look better in green than in orange.

I do have one pet peeve though. I cringe every time I walk into a restaurant and see a sign advertising “St. Patty’s Day” specials. Patty is short for Patricia. The proper nickname for Patrick is Paddy, a name once used pejoratively for Irishmen.

Now there is a St. Patricia of Naples, but I’m pretty sure she wasn’t Irish!  And her feast day is August 25th, not March 17th. So no more St. Patty’s Day signs, please!

St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland.

This is one of my favorite Irish blessings:

Here’s to lying, stealing, and cheating!
May you lie to save a friend;
May you steal the heart of the one you love;
And may you cheat death.

And my own St. Patrick’s Day wish:

On St. Paddy’s Day,
My wish for you
Is a large bowl
Of Irish stew.
And a pint or two
Of your favorite brew.

And may you be an hour in heaven before the devil knows you’re gone!

What are you doing for St. Patrick’s Day? I’ll be eating Corned Beef and Cabbage, but I won’t be drinking green beer.

Linda / Lyndi